How to Find Out If a Doctor Has Been Sued for Malpractice
If you or a loved one needs to find a doctor or surgeon, it is always smart to make sure the doctor you choose for treatment is board-certified and licensed. You may also want to find out if he has been sued for malpractice. According to MDNationwide, an estimated 50 percent to 60 percent of physicians are sued at least once during their career. The more you know, the easier it will be to make the best decision for you or your loved one.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Contact the state medical board. Most state medical boards offer limited information on doctors, so you may wish to do further research. The website listed in te resources section will give you a list of state medical boards as well as contact information and specific Web sites.
-
2
Dig deeper into malpractice lawsuits. If you uncover that your doctor has had lawsuits filed against him, don't immediately assume he was at fault. Lawsuits may be the result of a greedy patient or a patient who was a risk for problems. Some lawsuits are eventually dismissed. You may be able to find additional details by searching online or by reading court documents at your local courthouse.
-
-
3
Use an Internet service. Services such as MDNationwide will charge you for a full background report, but the information is often extensive. You can expect to read results on the doctor's training, education, awards, any malpractice history, license status and board-certification status. Another Web site option is healthgrades.com. This site will charge you about $12.95 for a doctor's report. On these sites (and other similar services), you will be asked to enter the doctor's name, state, city and possibly his or her specialty (such as cardiology). Reports usually include background information, any disciplinary actions, certifications and education. In addition, you may also be able to uncover malpractice information simply by entering a doctor's name into a search engine followed by "lawsuit" or "malpractice" or something similar.
-
4
Visit your local courthouse. Current and previous lawsuits are public record. Go to the Clerk's Office at your local courthouse and request to see any lawsuits filed with your doctor as the defendant. Most of this information will be available electronically at the courthouse.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The Internet allows you to search and compare various doctors in your area in a short amount of time. While many sites will charge a fee for a detailed doctor report, you can still find some free information by going online or by contacting the state medical board. When checking your doctor's background, more than three malpractice judgments is usually not a good sign, according to Disabled World.
While researching a doctor, check out different states. While one doctor may have lawsuits in one state, he or she may have moved to a different state, been relicensed and started over--essentially with a clean slate.
Do your research and find out how credible the company is that provides the physician information. Remember, the Internet is full of many sources claiming to have detailed information, but many actually don't. Information on the Internet is not carefully regulated--especially sites based outside the United States. According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, you should be suspicious of sites offering information on healthy living in addition to products for sale.
